I am thinking of making a mini Bio-Sand filter as a supplement to the normal filtration of my aquarium as a fun project. I think that it may help in the water polishing stage of filtration. I think it would do a better job than the average aquarium filter in removing ammonia, but i do not expect a high flow rate which is why it would have to be a supplemental filtration device.

Link119, I'm only jumpping in to offer a thought not advise...you have a 10 gal. tank, and the cost of small tanks of that size here where I live is about $1 per gal. If plumbed using tubbing, and attension paid to level, you could setup a sand tank to a height you desire for the water level...then plumb so your water you want to filter comes in from a tank at the same level or just below...you would have an outlet tube with a ball check valve and crack it open to the flow rate you want...NO pump would be required and variable flow rate to suit your needs. Just a side mention...It would seem this filter would be more effective at lowering or removing nitrates not ammonia...but this is just speculation and I don't know that for a fact. Hope this information proves helpful. PP

I was just wanted to make one for fun, not as a proper filter. Also, a tank full of sand and water would weigh a ton and i really am not looking for a large project. I feel that a tank full of sand would make a really effective filtration system.

Your idea is a good way to take the bio-sand filter to a new level, but i am not going to try it because i am too lazy to buy lots of sand.

So i tried making it with some fine sand and the results were miserable because even after sifting the sand it liked to clump up, compact, and some floated so when i decide to buy some PFS i will try again. I did not try it in the tank though, i just used some tank water in a bucket. If any of you want to try it, feel free to. By the way i used a water bottle for the container.